Admission is free to the Old Manse on Friday

CONCORD - On Friday, Aug. 22, the Old Manse, where several New England transcendentalist authors lived and gathered for inspiration, will open its doors free of charge to all visitors.

The Concord literary landmark will be participating for the first time in the Free Fun Fridays program, organized and funded by the Highland Street Foundation.

A National Historic Landmark where Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne once lived, it was built in 1769 by Emersonís grandfather just yards from the spot where the first shots of the American Revolution would later be fired.

From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Old Manse will offer the following activities at no charge: admission to the historic home, including self-guided and kid-friendly tours; Colonial music and dance demonstrations; a scavenger hunt and craft demonstrations; living history and a recreation of an 18th century yard; guided attic and landscape tours; tours of the adjacent Caesar Robbins House offered in partnership with the Drinking Gourd Project and more. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Managed by the Trustees of Reservations, the Old Manse is located at 269 Monument St., Concord.

For more information, call 978-369-3909 or visit www.thetrustees.org/old manse.